Airedale Hospital has been praised for the way it treats elderly patients in a national report by a health watchdog.

The State of Care report published on Friday by the Care Quality Commission, highlights the findings of an unannounced visit to the Steeton hospital last year.

Assessors focused on whether patients, particularly vulnerable older people, were treated with dignity and respect and whether their nutritional needs were being met. The hospital is praised for piloting the Butterfly scheme to help patients who have memory loss due to dementia.

The scheme provides staff with practical advice to make sure they are meeting patients’ individual needs by using a five point plan, known as REACH – Remind, Explain, Arrange, Check and History.

The report says: “We observed staff respecting the privacy and dignity of patients while talking to them and helping them in their daily activities.

“Patients we spoke with were very positive about their experiences of care and treatment.”

Rob Dearden, director of nursing at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It is very important to us that our patients and their families are treated with dignity and respect when experiencing our care.

“We welcome the findings of the Care Quality Commission and while we are delighted to be highlighted for our good practice we must never become complacent and we will continue to listen to our patients and their families about what matters to them.”